Quick-release locking device for telescoping member

Abstract

A locking device for a prism pole having a first telescoping member slidably located within a second telescoping member to selectively lock and unlock the first telescoping member relative to the second telescoping member. The locking device includes a housing having a sidewall with a bore extending therethrough. The upper end of the outer telescoping member is attached to the housing and the inner telescoping member is slidably located within the bore of the housing. First and second locking mechanisms, each comprising an annular ring, are disposed within the housing. Each ring includes a bore through which the inner telescoping member extends. The first locking mechanism is selectively pivotal between a first position, wherein the annular ring engages the inner telescoping member to prevent sliding movement in a first direction while allowing sliding movement in a second and opposite direction, and a second position wherein the first locking mechanism allows sliding movement in either direction. The second locking mechanism is pivotal between a first position, wherein sliding movement of the inner telescoping member is prevented in the second longitudinal direction while allowing sliding movement in the first direction, and a second position wherein the second locking mechanism permits sliding movement of the inner telescoping member in either direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A locking device for selectively locking a first telescoping member to a second telescoping member to prevent longitudinal movement therebetween, while selectively allowing the first telescoping member to slide in a first longitudinal direction with respect to the second telescoping member and to selectively slide in a second and opposite longitudinal direction with respect to the second telescoping member, said locking device including: a housing including a sidewall having a first end and a second end and a bore extending though said housing between said first end and a second end of said sidewall, said housing being connectable to the second telescoping member and the first telescoping member extending through said bore;   a first locking mechanism disposed within said housing, said first locking mechanism including a first engagement portion adapted to selectively engage the first telescoping member and a second engagement portion adapted to selectively engage the first telescoping member, said locking mechanism being pivotal between a first position and a second position, wherein said first locking mechanism, when in said first position, prevents longitudinal movement of the first telescoping member in the first longitudinal direction with respect to the second telescoping member, and when in said second position, said first locking mechanism permits movement of the first telescoping member in the first longitudinal direction with respect to the second telescoping member;   a second locking mechanism disposed within said housing, said second locking mechanism including a third engagement portion adapted to engage the first telescoping member and a fourth engagement portion adapted to engage the first telescoping member, said second locking mechanism being pivotal between a first position, wherein said second locking mechanism prevents movement of the first telescoping member in the second longitudinal direction with respect to the second telescoping member, and a second position wherein said second locking mechanism permits movement of the first telescoping member in the second longitudinal direction with respect to the second telescoping member;   means for biasing said first locking mechanism toward said first position; and   an actuator member associated with said first and second locking mechanisms such that said actuator member may assume at least three positions, whereby when said actuator member is in said first position the first telescoping member is prevented from sliding longitudinally with respect to the second telescoping member in both the first and second longitudinal direction, whereby when said actuator member is moved to a second position said actuator member pivots said first locking mechanism to said second position wherein the first telescoping member is allowed to slide longitudinally with respect to the second telescoping member in the first longitudinal direction, and whereby when said actuator member is moved to the third position said actuator member pivots said second locking mechanism to said second position wherein the first telescoping member is allowed to slide longitudinally with respect to the second telescoping member in the second longitudinal direction.   
     
     
       2. The locking device of claim 1 including means for biasing said second locking mechanism toward said first position. 
     
     
       3. The locking device of claim 2 wherein each said biasing means respectively comprises a spring. 
     
     
       4. The locking device of claim 1 wherein said actuator member includes a tab associated with said first and second locking mechanisms for selectively pivoting said first locking mechanism from said first position to said second position while said second locking mechanism remains in said first position or for selectively pivoting said second locking mechanism from said first position to said second position while said first locking mechanism remains in said first position. 
     
     
       5. The locking device of claim 1 wherein said actuator member includes an engagement portion associated with said first and second locking mechanisms for selectively simultaneously pivoting both said first and second locking mechanisms from the first position to the second position when said actuator member is moved to said second position or said third position. 
     
     
       6. The locking device of claim 1 wherein said housing includes a first chamber adapted to receive a first end of said first locking mechanism. 
     
     
       7. The locking device of claim 6 where said housing includes a second chamber adapted to receive said biasing means. 
     
     
       8. The locking device of claim 1 wherein said actuator member includes a tab which selectively engages a second end of said first locking mechanism and a second end of said second locking mechanism. 
     
     
       9. The locking device of claim 1 wherein said first locking mechanism comprises at least one ring having an aperture through which the first telescoping member extends. 
     
     
       10. The locking device of claim 1 wherein said first and second locking mechanisms each comprise a plurality of rings, each ring having an aperture through which the first telescoping member extends. 
     
     
       11. The locking device of claim 1 wherein said first locking mechanism and said second locking mechanism each respectively include an aperture through which the first telescoping member extends. 
     
     
       12. A releasable locking device for a first telescoping pole and a second telescoping pole including: a housing adapted to enclose a portion of the first pole and a potion of the second pole;   a bore extending through said housing adapted to receive a portion of the first pole and a portion of the second pole;   first and second locking rings disposed within said housing, each said locking ring defining a central aperture therethrough, each said aperture being sized such that the inner diameter of said aperture is greater than the outer diameter of the first pole to provide clearance therebetween;   a first mounting means associated with a first edge of said first locking ring, said first mounting means adapted to secure said first edge in place but to allow said first locking ring to pivot about said first mounting means;   a second edge of said first locking ring disposed substantially 180° around said first locking ring from said first edge;   a first resilient biasing means disposed within said housing associated with said second edge of said first locking ring, said first biasing means adapted to urge said first locking ring to pivot about said first mounting means in a clockwise direction;   a second mounting means associated with a first edge of said second locking ring, said second mounting means adapted to secure said first edge in place but to allow said second locking ring to pivot about said second mounting means;   a second edge of said second locking ring disposed substantially 180° around said second locking ring from said first edge;   a second resilient biasing means disposed within said housing and associated with said second edge of said second locking ring, said second biasing means adapted to urge said second locking ring to pivot about said second mounting means in a counter-clockwise direction;   a release member positioned between and selectively associated with said first and second locking rings such that said release member may assume at least three positions, whereby when said release member is in said first position the first pole is prevented from sliding longitudinally with respect to the second pole in both a first and second longitudinal direction, whereby when said release member is moved to a second position said release member pivots said first locking ring about said first mounting means wherein the first pole is allowed to slide longitudinally relative to the second pole in the first longitudinal direction, and whereby when said release member is moved to the third position said release member pivots said second locking ring about said second mounting means wherein the first pole is allowed to slide longitudinally with respect to the second pole in the second longitudinal direction.   
     
     
       13. The releasable locking device of claim 12 wherein said bore extending through said housing includes a first generally cylindrical wall portion having a first diameter and a second generally cylindrical wall portion having a second diameter, said second diameter being shorter than said first diameter. 
     
     
       14. The releasable locking device of claim 12 wherein said first and second mounting means respectively comprise a first chamber and a second chamber formed in said housing, said first edge of said first locking ring being located in said first chamber and said first edge of said second locking ring being located in said second chamber. 
     
     
       15. The releasable locking device of claim 12 wherein said first and second mounting means comprise a rib having an upper surface and a lower surface, said upper surface pivotally securing said first edge of said first locking ring to said housing, said lower surface pivotally securing said first edge of said second locking ring to said housing. 
     
     
       16. The releasable locking device of claim 12 including a third locking ring associated with said first locking ring, said third locking ring including a central aperture through which the first pole extends. 
     
     
       17. The releasable locking device of claim 16 including a fourth locking ring associated with said second locking ring, said fourth locking ring including a central aperture through which the first pole extends. 
     
     
       18. The releasable locking device of claim 16 wherein said first and third locking rings are moveable relative to one another. 
     
     
       19. The releasable locking device of claim 12 wherein said first and second biasing means each comprise a respective spring member.